After several years apart, Lin Momo missed her husband terribly. Just as she was about to travel thousands of miles to find him at the address on the letter, Zhu Rui sent someone to pick her up so she could reunite with Shi Guang.
Just when I was dozing off, someone brought me a pillow.
So, Lin quietly packed a few things and set off with Xiao Miao.
On the road, she rescued a grandmother and grandson who were starving to death by the roadside. The old man was none other than Doctor Ma, the descendant of the imperial physician who had treated Lin Musheng.
As for the descendants of the once-glorious and highly sought-after imperial physicians, why have they fallen to such a state?
This is truly a tragic story that brings tears to the eyes of those who hear it and saddens those who see it.
Dr. Ma's daughter-in-law went to town, but was abducted by a wealthy man from the county and taken home. Her son went to the man's house to demand her return, but was beaten half to death by the wealthy man's wicked servants. She died not long after being carried home.
And that nobleman wasn't satisfied; he used methods to drive him out of the clinic and forbade him from practicing medicine in the future.
To support his grandson, Dr. Ma had no choice but to become a traveling doctor in the countryside. However, years of disasters had made life difficult for the rural families; they were struggling to even afford food, let alone money for medical treatment.
Grain prices fluctuated daily, and even though Dr. Ma had considerable savings, it couldn't withstand the constant spending without any income. Before long, the money was all gone, and from then on, the grandfather and grandson struggled to survive, sometimes going hungry and sometimes full.
Lin Momo had a certain connection with this Doctor Ma, and thinking that the army camp must be short of doctors, she asked him if he would be willing to work by her side.
Dr. Ma, who was so thin he was practically skin and bones, was naturally willing to do so. He was so moved that tears streamed down his face, and he made his grandson kowtow to Lin Momo.
The hardships of life had long since worn away his former arrogance. Now, his only thought in life was to raise his grandson, help him get married and have children, and continue the Ma family line.
Although Lin Momo's clothes were simple, she was riding in a carriage and surrounded by soldiers. She was completely different from the poor girl from back then. She was destined for great things, and following her would definitely lead to a good life.
Both sides were satisfied, so Lin Momo led her grandfather and grandfather on their way.
*
Upon reaching the outskirts of the prefectural city, Lin Momo saw Shi Guang on a tall, fine horse and was momentarily dazed.
I couldn't help but sigh that a man really needs a career to strive for to show his true spirit, which also dispelled my idea of persuading Shi Guang to resign and go home.
Upon arriving in the prefectural city, Lin Momo was invited to attend Zhu Rui's grand and solemn wedding.
Later, Zhu Rui even organized a gathering for the Shi Guang couple.
At the party, Shi Guang and Zhu Rui had a pleasant conversation, but unfortunately, Lin Momo and the young lady from the Wu family were from different social classes, and since they were strangers meeting, they didn't get along very well.
They exchanged a few polite words and then pretended to listen to the two men's long-winded talk.
Not long after, the situation at the front changed drastically, and Shi Guang and Zhu Rui returned to the front lines to fight.
Lin Momo also pondered how she could help Shi Guang. She remembered that Shi Guang had said that many wounded soldiers had died in vain due to a lack of doctors and medicines at the front, so she had the idea of helping him solve this problem.
Fortunately, she had someone with expertise in this area, so she invited Dr. Ma to discuss the matter.
Later, with Dr. Ma's assistance, Lin Momo formed a medical team to treat wounded soldiers carried off the battlefield, greatly improving the survival rate of the wounded and reducing battle losses.
After this incident alarmed Zhu Rui, he appointed her as a medical officer, in charge of medical matters for the army under Zhu Rui's command.
Unable to shirk her responsibility, Lin Momo had no choice but to take it on, but she became more and more enthusiastic as she worked.
They even began recruiting renowned doctors and establishing a medical school and clinics to accumulate practical experience.
This clinic offers free medical consultations to the poor on the first and fifteenth of each month, which is highly praised by the people of the prefectural city. On those two days, the line of people coming to see the doctor stretches for two or three miles, and even patients from nearby prefectures and counties who cannot afford medical treatment come here after hearing about it.
This move actually won the Zhu family a lot of popular support.
Lin Momo also learned a lot of clinical treatment experience from Dr. Ma, which benefited her greatly and made great progress in her medical skills.
*
Six years later, Zhu Yingxiong defeated all his rivals, established a new dynasty, and proclaimed himself emperor facing south.
Zhu Rui, the eldest son of the legitimate wife, was made crown prince, and the young lady from the Wu family became the crown princess.
Shi Guang, who made great contributions to the Zhu family's empire, was fortunate enough to receive the title of First-Class Marquis when the emperor bestowed titles upon his meritorious officials.
The two souls from later generations, Shi Guang and Lin Momo, witnessed the fall of the old dynasty and the establishment of the new dynasty, and even participated in it, so their journey was not in vain.
Six months later, longing for a pastoral life, Shi Guang relinquished his military power and petitioned the emperor for permission to resign and retire.
The sage readily revoked the tiger tally that allowed him to mobilize the army, but did not approve the request to resign.
This is not surprising at all; there has always been a tradition of declining three times in ancient times.
Whether you call it a matter of etiquette or affectation, no one in officialdom can escape these customs.
Lin Momo and Shi Guang didn't expect to succeed on their first try, but if they succeeded twice more, the Sage would naturally allow them to pass.
But before Shi Guang could submit his memorial a second time, Crown Prince Zhu Rui could no longer tolerate it.
After court that day, the Crown Prince angrily took Shi Guang back to the Eastern Palace, berated him for half an hour, and then tried to persuade him not to leave by appealing to his emotions and reasoning with him.
Shi Guang was Zhu Rui's most trusted person, and he was even thinking of making good use of him after he ascended the throne. Who would have thought that this kid would abandon his post now? How could he not be angry?
Shi Guang smiled and said, "Over the years, I have followed His Highness the Crown Prince in his campaigns, and I have developed many hidden ailments. Your Highness, please allow me to recuperate."
This is a case of retreating in order to advance.
The words implied a halftime break, but whether Zhu Rui will remember his years of retirement after ascending the throne remains to be seen.
In short, the couple achieved their goal by being able to withdraw unscathed before the new dynasty purged its meritorious officials.
Zhu Rui was also moved by these words.
Over the years, he has often led troops into battle and suffered many injuries, resulting in some hidden ailments. It is understandable that he has experienced the effects of time.
Moreover, Shi Guang's temporary resignation was only temporary, and a royal decree would allow him to be reinstated in the future. Once His Highness the Crown Prince understood this, he no longer forced him to comply.
After three rounds of refusal, Shi Guang finally withdrew from the chaotic court and returned to the mountains with Lin Momo, becoming an enviable couple.
Having no hope of being reinstated, Shi Yu learned that his son had become a high-ranking official. He swaggered to the capital with his family to seek refuge with him, but Shi Guang resigned and went into seclusion in the mountains. Enraged, Shi Yu cursed him, "You unfilial son!"
The stepmother's plan to use her stepson's influence to secure a future for him also failed. She was so angry that she almost ground her teeth to powder, and she cursed him even louder in her heart.
(End of article)
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